WWII bombers to land for show April 23

NORTH COUNTY  World War II bombers are scheduled to fly into two North County airports April 23-27 as part of a cross country tour.

The Wings of Freedom tour features a display of WWII aircraft, including the B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator and P-51 Mustang.

The planes are slated to arrive at the Ramona Airport 2 p.m. April 23 and will be on display to the public until 5 p.m. April 25 at 2898 Montecito Rd., Ramona. Walk-through tours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 24 and 9 a.m. to noon April 25.

The Foundation restored the 1944 vintage Consolidated B-24J Liberator, which is painted as the “Witchcraft,” an 8th Air Force bomber that flew 130 missions over Europe as part of the 467th Bombardment Group, said Ken Miles, the Foundation’s director of operations.

The Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress flies as “Nine-O-Nine”, a heavy bomber, which was companion to the B-24 in thousands of bombing and reconnaissance missions.

The P-51C Mustang escort fighter “Betty Jane” was nicknamed by the bomber crews “Little Friends.” The P-51C pilots saved countless lives in the skies and on the ground during WWII,” Miles said.

The 25th annual event is sponsored by the nonprofit Collings Foundation founded in 1979 to run “living history” events honoring veterans.

The tour moves to McClellan-Palomar Airport, 2210 Palomar Airport Road in Carlsbad, April 25 to 27.

Walk-through tours are 2 to 5 p.m. April 25; 9 a.m to 5 p.m. April 26 and April 27